Chapter 229 : Chapter 229
Chapter 229 - The Youngest Son of the Haewon Sword Family (2)
Perhaps because they had heard I was going to clear the Abyss with Father, Seo Ji-hoon and Seo Ji-won came to see me at the same time.
It seemed they were quite concerned in their own way, and I had been planning to see them at least once anyway.
I had never shared any particularly deep affection with these two, but family was still family.
Before leaving on a journey that might perhaps be my last, I wanted to say at least a word of farewell.
“Our youngest brother looks even better than the last time I saw him.”
“Well, that goes for you too, eldest bro……”
But I could not bring myself to finish speaking, because Seo Ji-hoon’s appearance was not in a state that could be described as looking good.
Perhaps because he had been trapped in the Abyss for such a long time, he still looked gaunt.
As the leader of the expedition force while the connection between Earth and the Abyss had been severed, he must have suffered a great deal mentally.
‘Well, he is a character with a strong sense of responsibility.’
That was the driving force that had allowed Seo Ji-hoon’s Wolyeong Knights to prosper.
I had no choice but to acknowledge at least that ability of his.
“You said your illness is completely cured now?”
“Yes, thanks to everyone worrying about me.”
“It is late, but congratulations, my youngest brother.”
That damn “my youngest.”
There were only five years between Seo Ji-hoon and me, but perhaps because my sickly image from childhood was so strong, the way he addressed me felt as if he were dealing with a small child.
On the other hand, the second son, Seo Ji-won, who was only a year younger than Seo Ji-hoon, looked as chic as usual.
“At least now I no longer have to see you whining because you are sick. That much is good.”
“Ji-won, you always have to express yourself like that! Even though that is not how you actually feel inside.”
“What do you mean, it is not? What do you know about me, Brother?”
“I carried you on my back and raised you. Do you think I would not know what is inside you?”
“This is ridiculous.”
To be honest, I was not interested in Seo Ji-won’s inner thoughts either, so I did not know them well.
However, he was someone who placed the family before his own brothers.
That did not make him an evil person.
The chivalrous spirit he suitably displayed in the spirit of noblesse oblige was also highly praised by the public.
“In any case, the fact that both of you came to see me at the same time means you are rather concerned that I am going to clear the Abyss with Father, right?”
“I am interested.”
“I will not deny it either. Both of us received great gifts during our Abyss expeditions with Father.”
“So you are curious what I will receive this time?”
“Something like that.”
This was also proof that they had now begun to perceive me as a competitor.
The achievements I had been making lately, and the Chamryongdan, which was improving day by day. Those things must have become a fresh stimulus for the two of them.
Of course, these two had not accurately guessed my realm.
They merely perceived me as someone whose talent had turned out to be genius-level.
On the other hand, the change in the Chamryongdan was visibly apparent.
After all, with Choi Ho-joong at the center, their results in clearing Dungeons were among the best in the industry every time.
The growth of each individual member of the Chamryongdan was also dazzling.
At this point, if Choi Ho-joong or Shin Ah-yeon had a Bimu against anyone from the Wolyeong Knights, I thought they would likely win without much trouble.
“Somehow, I think our youngest will receive Father’s beloved sword, Lateon, during this expedition.”
“Then I will have to overturn everything. If it is Lateon, it is a higher grade than the Sword of Thales I received.”
“But in return, Ji-won, you quietly received a lot of other things. This is our youngest’s first time.”
“Even so, if that guy really receives Lateon, I am going to argue with Father.”
They were certainly frank in front of me, but unfortunately, both of them were barking up the wrong tree.
What I would receive was the latter half of the Haewon Sword Style.
‘But this would be even more reason for them to rise up in protest.’
They probably could not even imagine it.
That Father’s principles had been broken in this way.
Of course, there was a high chance that these two would also be taught the latter half of the Haewon Sword Style in turn later.
Father would not make an exception only for me.
“Still, to think a day like this would come for our youngest.”
“This guy has finally become barely useful as a human being.”
“Honestly, Ji-won, you really are……”
“Still, I acknowledge what should be acknowledged. Especially when this guy first said he was founding a sword unit, I wondered what sort of nonsense he was doing. But now, I suppose I respect it to some extent.”
“Well, I was surprised when I heard about the Chamryongdan too. They said it has already become our sword family’s representative sword unit, did they not?”
The two of them were talking among themselves with me right in front of them.
Still, this was the first time the three brothers had gathered separately like this and had a conversation.
I did not have any particularly tender feelings toward these two, but it somehow felt like family.
This occasion was not especially uncomfortable or bad.
“In any case, from now on, let us begin a proper competition in good faith, youngest brother.”
At Seo Ji-hoon’s words, I gave a slight smile and nodded.
“To think I would be competing with this guy. Truly, one must live long and see all sorts of things.”
Seo Ji-won remained consistent until the very end.
Even as I watched the two of them, I could not easily judge.
I did not know which of the two would become the next head of the Haewon Sword Family, or whether I would ever see that day, but whoever it was, there would be no problem.
After all, there were no fools among the sons of Seo Joon-wook.
***
The Abyss I came to clear with Father was the Golden Library.
It was an unknown place that had never been cleared before, but I felt no burden at all.
[Welcome to the Golden Library.]
[In commemoration of the reconnection between the Abyss and Earth, a reward will be granted without conditions.]
[Please choose one place you like from the map reading room on the first floor of the library.]
It was a very kind message from the Abyss.
“Was the Abyss always a place like this these days?”
“Of course not. We might get stabbed in the back at any moment, so we should always be careful.”
“Yes. Then for now, let us do as it says.”
“You look pleased.”
“My heart is still young, after all.”
Father looked excited by his first Abyss clearing in a long while.
Following the Abyss’s guidance, we entered the map reading room.
This was where we would receive one portal map as a reward.
The reading room was so vast that it made my jaw drop.
Perhaps spatial distortion magic had been cast on it, because its scale was even larger than the entire library as seen from the outside.
Countless bookshelves filled the map reading room.
And all those bookshelves were neatly packed with even more maps.
“Astonishing. This must mean there are as many dimensions connected to the Abyss as there are maps here.”
“It seems impossible to look through them all and choose one anyway.”
“Would you pick one, Ji-han? Of course, that map will become yours.”
“Yes, Father.”
I accepted immediately without refusing.
Although I had already decided on my final journey, there was something I wanted to check.
Whether this map reading room contained one for my homeland, Kalia.
Fortunately, those countless bookshelves each had their own index.
And they were even labeled very kindly in Korean, so I did not have to examine every bookshelf and instead headed straight for the section beginning with “K.”
‘……Indeed.’
Even before this important moment, my heart was astonishingly calm.
Perhaps it was because I had grown accustomed to Earth.
After all, there were precious people on Earth, and there was a sword unit I had to take responsibility for.
If a map connected to Kalia truly existed here, what decision would I have to make then?
In the past, I would have left without looking back, but now I could no longer be certain.
Because Earth was now also my home.
As I sank into such thoughts, I suddenly realized that I, too, had changed greatly.
SLIDE.
I slowly moved my eyes as I ran my finger over the indexes of the maps.
Many dimensions passed beneath my fingertips, and I could not help being impressed by the vastness of this universe.
Then my fingertips came to a stop.
At last, I was able to find a map with the name Kalia written on it.
It was a moment I had waited for a long time.
But when that moment actually arrived, it did not feel real.
‘This, too, is Father’s gift.’
As if in a scripted scene, the Abyss I had entered together with Father allowed me to unexpectedly fulfill a long-held wish.
[You have selected the Map of Kalia.]
[The Map of Kalia has become yours as a reward.]
***
“Have you already finished choosing and returned?”
“Yes, Father.”
“I only hope you will be able to go to the place you selected.”
“……What do you mean by that?”
For a moment, my heart sank.
“I mean that dangerous journey through the Abyss that lies before you. You must complete it safely for there to be anything after that.”
“……I suppose that is true.”
It was a strangely exquisite conversation.
But as Father said, if I could not pass through the Demon Realm and the Dragon’s Nest, there would be nothing after that.
Whether I would truly return to Kalia was something I would decide only after that.
[A quest has been generated.]
[Go to the second floor of the library and select one swordsmanship manual from the Kalia Continent.]
[When both of you have mastered the techniques of the selected swordsmanship manual, the quest will be judged as cleared.]
“Kalia Continent…… That is an unfamiliar place.”
“It is probably because I selected this map.”
When I took out the portal map of Kalia and showed it to him, Father nodded.
“Good. Let us go up at once.”
This place called the Golden Library was not only kind, but even felt like a customized Abyss made for me.
As if giving me a map that could return me to my homeland were not enough, it had even generated a quest related to Kalia.
“By the way, Father. Are you not disappointed?”
“About what?”
“You came to the Abyss for the first time in a while, but it seems somewhat bland. It might have been better if there were hunting involved, for example, or a thrilling mission to carry out.”
However, Father smiled and shook his head.
“Rather, I prefer this. I can train in swordsmanship intimately with you, can I not? Without anyone interfering or disturbing us.”
“To tell the truth, I feel the same.”
CREAK.
When we opened the door to the second floor and entered, this time, a magnificent view of the book reading room unfolded before us.
Of course, we could not read every book here.
What was permitted to us was only the swordsmanship manuals of Kalia.
“I will give you the right to choose again this time, Ji-han. Would you pick one?”
“Yes. I will look for something suitable.”
“Swordsmanship from another dimension. I look forward to it.”
It was undeniable that Kalia’s swordsmanship was superior to Earth’s.
In that sense, it could be a fresh challenge for Father.
I slowly walked toward the bookshelf where Kalia’s swordsmanship manuals were placed.
Little by little, lists of familiar sword styles began entering my eyes.
I pondered carefully, again and again.
It would be troublesome if the sword style were too far removed from Earth’s style of swordsmanship, but if it overlapped too much, its merit would also fall.
The profundity of the swordsmanship also had to be chosen at the right level.
It was nice to spend intimate time with Father, but staying here indefinitely would also be a problem.
At last, I was able to find a suitable swordsmanship manual.
I only hoped it would become a fresh joy and benefit to Father.